Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Sarah Meisenberg recorded a game-high 25 points, while Brittany Braxton and Alison Menna posted double-doubles to lead Franklin & Marshall over Dickinson 75-71 in Centennial Conference (CC) women's basketball action on Saturday.

With the win and combined with Ursinus' 71-69 victory over Muhlenberg, the Diplomats (19-6, 14-4 CC) earned hosting rights for next weekend's conference tournament. F&M also closed out the regular season with their sixth straight win and posted a perfect 9-0 record at home in CC play.

Playing in what was thought to be her last collegiate home game, Braxton scored 11 points and grabbed 12 boards to mark her eighth double-figure rebounding performance of the season. Menna came off the bench to collect her first double-double with a season-high 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Red Devils (16-8, 14-4 CC) moved into a three-way tie for first with the loss and due to the tie-breaking criteria they dropped to the No. 3 seed for the CC playoffs. Four players were in double figures for Dickinson, including Carole Dempsey with a team-high 13 points and eight rebounds.

In the first meeting this season between the two teams, F&M shot 62 percent and used a 19-1 run in the first half to take the lead for good while holding off the Red Devils late comeback attempt in the five minutes for the win.

The visitors took an early seven point lead at 9-2 with 4:28 gone from the opening tip. Meisenberg stopped the run with her infamous fast-break layup and Dempsey came back with a layupto make it 11-4.

From there, the Diplomats went 7-for-8 from the floor and knocked down a trio of three pointers with the last one coming from Meisenberg for a 23-12 lead. Dickinson got within four (34-30) with 3:42 on a good trey by Kay Binetti, but Meisenberg tallied four more points and Beth Holt for a 40-32 halftime advantage.

After the break, the Red Devils cut the lead to one point at the 16:15 mark. Menna gave F&M momentum with an old-fashion three-point play for a 48-45 edge which turned into an eight-point lead with 10:14 left.

The Diplomats held on down the stretch, despite a scare after Laura Houseal drained a three-pointer to pull with one with 17 seconds left. Sara Wolman went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe and Braxton hit one from the line for the final margin.

F&M shot 54.3 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line for the game, while holding Dickinson to 36.9 percent shooting.

The Diplomats will host the CC tournament on March 1-2. Game times to be determined.